– most of the food we harvest from the sea does not respect national boundaries (large fish are mostly migrant and swim through many different territorial waters).

All this means that all issues affecting the oceans and land are closely interrelated and cannot be solved without strong coordinated efforts by all populations, in all countries and on many different fronts.

As with agriculture, at first the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) focused largely on the economic development of fisheries and on giving people access to as much fish as possible at the cheapest prices possible, thus promoting and consolidating large industrial fishing fleets.

It’s true that this strategy did meet its initial goal. Never before, in fact, had people had so much access to fish.

But, insofar as it largely underestimated the effects of overfishing, habitat destruction and damage to the balance of the ecosystem, as well as climate change and pollution, which are also devastating oceans and coastal communities, the strategy has now gone as far as it can.

It is high time that we focused on the conservation of the oceans and the livelihoods of fishing communities, which use much more sustainable methods, know the waters where they fish better than anyone else and ensure the well-being of millions of people in coastal areas.

For these reasons our association is committed to monitoring the implementation of the CFP reform recently approved by the European Union; to fight against the development of intensive aquaculture that harms ecosystems; to promote management systems for fisheries that involve and empower fishing communities; and to inform consumers about the virtuous choices they can make to protect our seas.

From fishing to processing high quality fish products in Mauritania, the Sa.Sal.No project promotes a sustainable supply chain by supporting female salt producers in Nouadhibou in the production of “good, clean and fair” salt.

Six fishermen “cofradias” (guilds) in Galicia, Spain, are proposing to work together with regional and national governments, in managing fishing resources, by petitioning for the creation of a fisheries interest marine reserve.